The match marked Afghanistan’s eighth appearance in the competition, with the young Afghan side recording their fifth victory.

Afghanistan will face Hungary in the semi-finals of the placement competition for positions 81 to 88 later on Thursday.

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The meetings took place on the sidelines of the General Assembly of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC), according to ASQA.

The Afghan delegation, led by ASQA Technical Deputy Mohammad Asif Qanit and Chief of Staff Wahid Ahmad Badri, met with representatives of the Turkish Standards Institution (TSE) to discuss employee training, quality certification, technical standards, laboratory services and bilateral cooperation.

The two sides also discussed a United Nations Development Programme initiative supported by Turkey, which focuses on building technical capacity and creating employment opportunities for Afghans.

Turkish officials expressed their willingness to maintain engagement with their Afghan counterparts and invited the delegation to visit the institution in Turkey, including its laboratories and operational facilities, ASQA said.

In talks with Uzbekistan’s Agency for Technical Regulation and Standardization, the Afghan delegation explored potential areas for technical cooperation.

Separate discussions with the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) focused on strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation through diplomatic channels.

Representatives of Kazakhstan’s Institute of Standardization and Metrology (KazStandard) also met with the Afghan delegation and expressed readiness to provide technical assistance.

ASQA said the meetings form part of its efforts to broaden engagement with regional and international standards organizations, improve technical expertise and advance Afghanistan’s standards and quality sector.

The authority added that stronger international partnerships could help develop laboratory services, improve quality certification and support the implementation of technical standards across Afghanistan.

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In a statement released on October 28, 2026, prosecutors identified the Afghan national as Khalida Safi, a lawful permanent resident of the United States. She is accused of voting in the November 5, 2024 election, which included contests for president, vice president and members of Congress.

In a separate case, Moneir Elzobier Ali Yousif, a Sudanese national and lawful permanent resident, is accused of voting in an election held on October 29, 2024.

Both individuals face one count of voting by an alien. If convicted, each could face up to one year in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, or both.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the cases.

Authorities said initial court appearances had not yet been scheduled as of the announcement.

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Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said “all of Spain” was in mourning after the collision, which the transport ‌minister said happened after a Renfe service was authorised to proceed despite an active red signal due to a stationary train ahead, Reuters reported.

Oscar Puente told reporters in Madrid that the red signal was issued due to a computer communications failure, which automatically stopped traffic, but an erroneous decision was then taken to restart the Renfe train.

Sanchez said in a televised address from near the site south of Madrid that the “terrible tragedy” would be investigated and vowed to address any failures that came to light, adding that the causes ​of the two crashes appeared to be unrelated.

“If we need to further strengthen safety in order to rebuild confidence in our high-speed rail system, we will do so, because what is unacceptable for a ​country like Spain is to suffer two high-speed rail accidents in the same year,” Sanchez said.

Spain’s opposition People’s Party said it had cancelled all campaign events for the ⁠day, ahead of elections next month.

TRAPPED AMONG SEATS

At the scene in rural Castilla-La Mancha, ambulances, funeral home vans and helicopters assembled beside one of the trains on an elevated stretch of track, while twisted metal and wreckage ​lay scattered down an embankment where at least three carriages had plunged.

The head of the regional government, Emiliano García-Page, said the death toll had risen to 68, while rescuers searching for other victims as darkness fell did not know ​if other fatalities would be discovered once the carriages were moved.

Passengers, some splattered with blood or bandaged, were evacuated along a nearby road after the crash, which Spain’s health minister, Monica Garcia, said had injured 80 people, 15 of them very seriously.

Salvador Arriza described the chaos in his carriage.

“I was very close to the door, but (other passengers) were breaking the windows to be able to get out. Some people practically couldn’t move because they were trapped amongst the seats,” said the 62-year-old.

INVESTIGATION UNDER WAY

The disaster, the ​deadliest train accident in Europe since a 2013 derailment in Spain’s Santiago de Compostela in which 80 people died, follows another fatal accident in January involving high-speed trains operated by the same companies on the same line, in which ​46 people died.

In that collision, a train derailed and smashed into an oncoming train, prompting a debate over investment in railway maintenance.

Renfe said on Wednesday that after being authorised to continue its journey, its train had crashed into the Iryo train that ‌had remained stationary “for ⁠reasons we don’t know”.

“The Renfe train continued on its way as instructed, and a collision occurred. The exact sequence of events, the traffic conditions and the circumstances of the impact will have to be established by the investigation,” Renfe said in a statement.

Iryo, which said it had activated emergency protocols, and state-owned infrastructure operator Adif did not respond to requests for comment.

PASSENGERS SENT FLYING

A Castilla-La Mancha government spokesperson said 147 people were on board the Iryo train and 397 on the Renfe service when the collision occurred at about 9 a.m. (0800 GMT), derailing two Iryo carriages.

Passenger Rafael Barcelo said he felt lucky as he had stepped away from his seat for a coffee, adding there ​had been at least eight victims from his carriage.

“We were ​having breakfast, drinking a coffee when we felt ⁠a very strong impact and we were sent flying,” he said.

At a school in Urda where relatives had been directed, a woman who gave her name as Ana fought back tears as she said there was still no news of her husband, Pepe. His name was not among those identified, although police had found their dog, Trece.

Renfe ​said it had opened a special line for families of victims. The railway operator said it had suspended ticket sales on the Madrid-Andalusia high-speed corridor until ​December 13.

MAINTENANCE SPENDING

A preliminary Civil Guard ⁠report in February pointed to defects in the track, rail or a weld between two sections of track as the leading theory behind January’s accident, though investigators kept seven other possibilities open.

Spain’s railway safety authority has reported that accidents, including derailments and collisions, increased from 45 in 2016 to 57 in 2024 and 69 last year.

A Reuters analysis of data from the Spanish competition authority showed some 25 million passengers used a high-speed train in Spain in the first half of ⁠2026, a drop ​of around 14% compared with the same period last year.

Meanwhile, European Commission data shows Spain’s maintenance investment in its roughly 4,000 km (2,485 ​miles) of high-speed lines has lagged other large European countries.

Although Spain spent an average of about €1.5 billion a year on its high-speed network between 2018 and 2022, more than any other European country, most of that money went toward new construction. Only about 16% was earmarked for ​maintenance, renewals and upgrades.

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The defendants face charges including rape, conspiracy to rape and human trafficking in connection with alleged offences spanning August 2023 to May 2025. The girls were in their early to mid-teens at the time of the alleged offences.

The 12-week trial was originally scheduled to begin at Norwich Crown Court on January 11, 2027. It will now take place at Southwark Crown Court from May 4, 2027, at the earliest.

The relocation follows concerns about Norwich Crown Court’s ability to accommodate all eight defendants, who remain in custody. The trial date and presiding judge have yet to be confirmed.

All eight men have denied the charges. They are being prosecuted following a police investigation into alleged group-based child exploitation in Norwich.

The defendants are Jamil Khalil, 21, of Dumbarton, Scotland; Ahmadin Ahmadzai, 21; Qais Kaker, 20; Fazal Auryakhel, 20; Mohammed Farooq Sinwary, 20; Ali Ahamad, 21; Sayed Wahid Daviodzai, 20, all of Norwich; and Bilal Shinwari, 20, of Bowthorpe.

The charges vary between defendants, ranging from individual rape allegations to multiple counts of rape, human trafficking and conspiracy. Shinwari was arrested in Ireland and returned to the United Kingdom in July.

According to the information provided by authorities, six of the men entered the UK in small boats, while the other two arrived concealed in vehicles.

Norfolk Police has stressed that none of the accused men lived in asylum hotels in Norfolk and that none of the alleged offences took place at such facilities.

Detective Superintendent Stacey Murray has said the safety and wellbeing of the victims remain the investigation’s primary concern.

She said a dedicated team was examining all available lines of inquiry and gathering evidence while taking account of the traumatic experiences of the victims.

The case is expected to be heard over approximately three months, with proceedings now scheduled to begin no earlier than May 2027.

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The decision was announced late Wednesday, although authorities did not provide a reason for the restrictions.

The eastern administration has instructed its Interior Ministry to enforce the ban and deport Afghan and Iranian nationals who do not possess valid residence permits.

Exemptions will apply to members of accredited diplomatic and consular missions and their families. Afghans and Iranians working in the medical and education sectors may also qualify for exemptions, provided they hold valid work authorizations.

The latest restrictions follow similar measures introduced by the eastern administration in June, when it barred nationals of Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia.

Libya has served as a major transit route for migrants attempting to reach Europe across the Mediterranean since the 2011 overthrow of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi. The country has remained divided between rival administrations in the east and west since 2014.

According to United Nations data collected in June, more than 900,000 migrants are living in Libya.

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In a statement delivered during the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, the EU stressed the importance of protecting the rights of Afghans, particularly women and young people, and ensuring their meaningful participation in shaping the country’s future.

The European Union said it has provided approximately €2 billion ($2.2 billion) in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan since 1994, including €320 million in 2024 and 2025.

The bloc also reiterated its support for UNAMA and international efforts to promote accountability for alleged human rights violations in Afghanistan.

The statement comes as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has maintained that human rights are being protected in the country in accordance with Sharia law.

The EU’s remarks underscore continuing international concerns over human rights and humanitarian conditions in Afghanistan, alongside its stated commitment to assisting the Afghan population.

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The embassy hosted a book launch ceremony on October 27 for Advanced Pashto Grammar in Use, attended by Russian Ambassador to Pakistan Albert P. Khorev, Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Sardar Ahmad Shakib, the book’s author Hafiz-ur-Rehman Doran, and academics and media representatives.

Speaking at the event, Khorev said Afghanistan and Pakistan share a common language, giving their people an important opportunity to understand one another better.

He described the initiative as another Russian effort to encourage dialogue and help resolve differences between Kabul and Islamabad.

“Pashto can become a language of reconciliation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, just as Russian can become a language of reconciliation between Russia and Ukraine,” Khorev said.

The remarks highlight the potential role of shared cultural and linguistic ties in promoting dialogue between Afghanistan and Pakistan, whose relations have faced persistent challenges.

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The match was played at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium, where Arman FC showed their attacking strength from the opening minutes.

Damola Iseoluwa Akanni opened the scoring for Arman FC in the eighth minute, before teammate Payman Sultani struck twice in the 10th and 18th minutes to give his side a three-goal lead.

Mohammad Nowrozi pulled one back for Omar Zawak in first-half stoppage time, leaving Arman FC with a 3-1 lead at the break.

Arman FC continued their attacking push in the second half, with Shokorullah Kohi scoring the team’s fourth goal in stoppage time. Fardin Azizi then added a fifth in the fifth minute of stoppage time to seal a 5-1 victory.

Payman Sultani, who scored twice, was named player of the match.

Arman FC will face Aino Mina on October 31, while Omar Zawak will take on Toofan Herat on November 2.

All matches in the sixth season of Afghanistan Champions League Roshan are being broadcast live on Ariana Television.

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Khyber claimed that positive changes had been made in Afghanistan in the areas of women’s rights and human rights over the past five years, describing them as unprecedented in the country’s history.

He said women’s rights under Islamic law include property ownership, inheritance, dowry, financial maintenance, protection against forced marriage, the right to choose a spouse, and the right to engage in business and economic activities.

Khyber stressed that women’s rights should not be used as a tool for political disputes or reduced to propaganda campaigns. He called on individuals and organizations that identify themselves as defenders of women’s rights to demonstrate their commitment through practical action.

He also said the rights of women and other Afghan citizens should not be subject to political bargaining, urging those concerned with human rights to adopt what he described as a practical and fair approach.

Khyber dismissed criticism and reports about the ministry’s performance regarding citizens’ rights as propaganda driven by political and intelligence objectives.

The remarks come a day after the United Kingdom, the United States and senior United Nations officials at a UN Security Council meeting called for Afghan women and girls to have a greater role in shaping their country’s future, criticizing restrictions on their rights and exclusion from public life.

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Airport officials said 53 passengers were carried on the inaugural flight from Herat to Dubai, half of them Iranian nationals.

The new route is expected to operate once a week, providing passengers and business travellers with a direct connection between Herat and Dubai.

Officials at Khwaja Abdullah Ansari International Airport also said direct flights from Herat to Tehran and Istanbul are expected to launch in the coming weeks, further expanding the city’s international air connections.

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The priorities were presented at the seventh meeting on aligning the priorities of Afghanistan’s sectoral institutions with development partners, held on Wednesday in in Kabul.

According to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, the ministry’s priorities include creating investment opportunities across the country, establishing business centers, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, improving the marketing of domestic products, and expanding the processing and packaging of locally manufactured goods.

The agenda also includes expanding exports and strengthening productive industries, with the broader aim of promoting economic growth, supporting the private sector and creating employment opportunities.

The meeting was intended to help coordinate future assistance and development cooperation with the ministry’s identified priorities.

Representatives of donor institutions and international organizations welcomed the initiative and thanked the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce for sharing the priorities. They said they would align their future assistance and cooperation with the areas identified.

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Pezeshkian made the remarks during a meeting with Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, October 27, on the sidelines of the eighth summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).

“I believe we are capable of resolving our problems in the region without relying on the United States,” Pezeshkian told Putin, arguing that regional countries have the capacity to address their own challenges through cooperation.

The Iranian president said growing trade between Tehran and Moscow reflected strengthening ties between the two countries. He added that US actions were encouraging closer cooperation among Russia, Iran and other countries facing unilateral American sanctions.

Pezeshkian also called for expanded bilateral cooperation across scientific, economic, industrial, cultural, security and military fields, thanking Moscow for its political, economic and security support for Iran.

Putin, meanwhile, said trade between Russia and Iran had continued to grow and confirmed that construction work at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant was progressing.

The Russian president also acknowledged the seriousness of the regional situation, saying he and Pezeshkian had discussed developments during a private conversation and expressing hope that events would move in a positive direction.

The meeting comes as Moscow seeks to support diplomatic efforts to prevent a renewed escalation in the Middle East. Negotiations between Washington and Tehran have remained stalled following the outbreak of war on February 28, when US-Israeli strikes targeted Iran.

Both Washington and Israel have threatened to resume strikes against Iran, adding to uncertainty over the prospects for a diplomatic settlement.

The talks in Moscow underscore the growing importance Tehran places on its partnership with Russia as it seeks to strengthen economic and political ties with countries outside the Western sphere.

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Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on Women, Peace and Security on October 27, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Kate Foster said women and girls in Afghanistan had been systematically excluded from public life and decision-making.

“Their voices must be central to discussions about the country’s future,” Foster said, stressing that lasting peace cannot be achieved while half of the population is excluded from decisions that shape society.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres also highlighted restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan, alongside Mali, Yemen and Somalia, saying they were facing further crackdowns on their rights.

Sima Bahous, executive director of UN Women, said Afghan women and girls continued to be systematically excluded from public life and denied a voice in determining their country’s future.

Tammy Bruce, the US deputy representative to the United Nations, said the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan continued to deny young Afghan women opportunities to pursue education, secure employment and receive training.

“Over the past five years, the Taliban (IEA) have systematically reversed decades of hard-won progress on women’s participation in peace and security,” Bruce said. “These practices are unacceptable and must cease immediately.”

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has imposed restrictions on women and girls’ access to education, employment and public life since returning to power in August 2021. These measures have drawn repeated criticism from the United Nations and international human rights organizations.

The Islamic Emirate has maintained that restrictions are internal matters for Afghanistan and has called on other countries and organizations not to interfere in the country’s domestic affairs.

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Afghanistan were struggling at 66 for 5 in the 12th over before Ahmadzai turned the innings around with an explosive knock. He reached his half-century off just 20 balls, putting Zimbabwe’s bowlers under pressure with a series of powerful shots.

Ahmadzai combined with Shahidullah, who scored 46 off 42 balls, to rebuild the innings. The pair added 61 runs in just 4.5 overs, helping Afghanistan recover from their early setbacks.

Rashid Khan provided another late surge, smashing 30 runs off just 10 deliveries, including four sixes and a four. Afghanistan were eventually bowled out with one ball remaining in their innings but managed to post a competitive total of 177.

Newman Nyamhuri was Zimbabwe’s leading bowler, claiming four wickets for 31 runs.

In reply, Zimbabwe struggled against Afghanistan’s disciplined bowling attack and were bowled out for 140, handing Afghanistan a comfortable victory.

Rashid played a key role with the ball, taking two wickets for 20 runs, while Fazalhaq Farooqi also claimed three wickets to restrict Zimbabwe’s chase.

Afghanistan tightened their grip during the middle overs as Rashid and Mujeeb Ur Rahman struck crucial blows. Mujeeb finished with two wickets, while Zimbabwe continued to lose batters at regular intervals and failed to build the partnerships needed to challenge the target.

The victory marked Afghanistan’s sixth consecutive T20I win against Zimbabwe and improved their overall record in the format to 20 wins against two defeats.

The sides will meet again for their next T20I on Thursday.

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Netanyahu called for the formation of “a strong, right-wing national government,” while Eisenkot said the public had voted against Netanyahu remaining prime minister and called on him to ‌retire from politics. Neither of them claimed victory, Reuters reported.

Neither declaration resolved the electoral arithmetic.

With actual votes trickling in, Kan 11 and Channel 13 exit polls had the blocs tied at 51-51, while Channel 12 gave Netanyahu’s Likud-led bloc a narrow 52-49 edge. None left either side with the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset.

The deadlock could work in Netanyahu’s favour, leaving him in office as a caretaker prime minister during what are likely to be prolonged coalition negotiations or even until another election can be ​held.

Far-right religious parties led by Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich were projected to take a combined 13 seats within Netanyahu’s bloc – with no major gains for either of them.

Arab parties outside the two main ​blocs could hold the balance of power. But Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party and a former military chief, has all but ruled out forming a government with ⁠them, complicating his path to power.

SECURITY FIGHT SHARPENS

Netanyahu highlighted Israel’s military successes and raised the prospect of renewed joint action with US President Donald Trump against Iran as he addressed party faithful after 3 a.m. (0100 GMT) at ​Likud election headquarters in Jerusalem.

“Israel faces a singular historical opportunity, together with our partner President Trump, to remove the existential threat of Iran once and for all. But ulterior motives must not divert us from this sacred mission,” ​he said.

Eisenkot earlier warned Netanyahu not to use Israel’s security for political purposes.

“Netanyahu is a caretaker prime minister, without a mandate or the people’s trust,” Eisenkot said, calling on the security establishment to “stand firm” against any attempt to put political interests ahead of Israel’s security.

Voter turnout was 77.7%, Israel’s Central Elections Committee said, the highest in more than two decades and around 7 percentage points higher than in 2022.

Final results are expected on Thursday or Friday, and Israel’s fragmented political system leaves smaller parties potential kingmakers ​in coalition negotiations that have run to weeks or months after past elections. If neither bloc can form a government, another vote may need to be held, something Eisenkot opposed given the high voter turnout.

Yohanan Plesner, president ​of the Israel Democracy Institute, called the exit polls a major defeat for Netanyahu’s coalition but cautioned that Eisenkot had not emerged as a clear winner and much could change as votes were counted.

NETANYAHU SETBACK, NO CLEAR WINNER

If the exit ‌poll projections hold, ⁠Netanyahu’s nationalist-religious coalition, which at its height held 68 seats, would fall far short of the 61 needed to govern, leaving him with no clear path to forming a government.

Eisenkot, 66, who lost a son and two nephews in the Gaza war, emerged as Netanyahu’s strongest challenger, stressing his security credentials while positioning himself as a centrist domestically.

He entered politics only four years ago and joined Netanyahu’s war cabinet after the 2023 Hamas attack, but quit eight months later, criticising the prime minister’s leadership.

Eisenkot offers a break with Netanyahu’s leadership and far-right allies, but not with the hawkish approach to security that has become more entrenched since the 2023 Hamas attack. He opposes Palestinian statehood ​and says Hamas’ military wing must be destroyed or ​dismantled.

Eisenkot says Israel’s response — a war that has ⁠killed more than 74,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities — was a failure because Hamas remains in charge.

The headquarters of the Joint List, an alliance of several Arab parties, burst into whistles and applause when exit polls were released, on a historic night for turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel.

“We refuse the occupation and racism, and we ​will remain here,” said Faten Gattas, a candidate in the Joint List, in a speech at the alliance’s headquarters in Nazareth. Candidates hoped high Arab turnout would ​allow them to play a ⁠decisive role in blocking Netanyahu’s coalition from returning to power.

A WARTIME VERDICT

Voters grappled with the trauma of Israel’s deadliest day, when Hamas killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostage, and the wars in Gaza and with Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iran that followed.

While Netanyahu was criticised for the country’s biggest security failure, he argued that he had made Israel and the world safer by killing top leaders of Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran.

The policies of Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition have been divisive at ⁠home and deepened ​Israel’s international isolation, but he has portrayed himself as the leader with the mettle to face down Israel’s foes.

Netanyahu, 77, has served ​as prime minister for nearly 19 of the past 30 years and has repeatedly survived political crises. His opponents have managed to wrest the premiership from him only once since 2009, after four inconclusive elections in two years. Eighteen months later, he was back.

He entered the election ​facing long-standing corruption charges, which he denies, and criticism over intelligence failures that allowed Hamas-led militants to carry out their attack.

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